In 2004 (was it that long ago?) I shot photos of Asia Argento for Black Book.

As soon as I walked in to her house in Venice Beach, CA (which looked like some heavy partying went down the night before) I told her I wanted to shoot her in her natural state, just doing whatever she would normally be doing. She was down, but Black Book was not, they wanted her to go through the full gauntlet of makeup. So I decided to document that happening.

"Lotion my legs for me!"

Must be nice having your face brushed and your legs sponged with lotion at the same time.

"Women's fashion is a subtle form of bondage. It's men's way of binding them. We put them in these tight, high-heeled shoes, we make them wear these tight clothes and we say they look sexy. But they're actually tied up." -David Duchovny

"What you might see as depravity is, to me, just another aspect of the human condition." -Asia Argento

"Every writer, to some extent, writes about himself." -Dario Argento

"I have a wonderful make-up crew. They're the same people restoring the Statue of Liberty." -Bob Hope

For this post I am focusing on the B&W out takes shot with the Leica. (again, these images are scanned from the proof sheet.) The article was called "Shimmer like your Sister Kate." It was styled by Sara Moonves. The editorial can be seen on nytimes.com.

"I think a woman's body is so much more sensual than a man's. I'm not saying strip off all your clothes, but there are certain photos I like people taking of me, where I'm comfortable. As long as it's tasteful, why not?" -Lindsay Lohan

"I will always admit immediately to what's obvious, which is that Homo sapiens is inherently erotic or inherently sensual from birth." -Jock Sturges

This year I did my first official fashion shoot with model Ruby Aldridge, along with friends Grant Hatfield and Ashley Baluyut. It was called "Shimmer like your Sister Kate." Twas styled by Sara Moonves. The editorial can be seen on nytimes.com, and here are some out takes from the shoot (scanned from the proof sheet.)

All the fashion type things I had done in the past were done using friends. This was the first time I have worked with a professional model. Ruby's father is 1960's artist Alan Aldridge and her Mother is Laura Lyons Playboy Playmate 1976. Ruby's older sister Lily Aldridge is also a Victoria's Secret model. She is the half sister of British fashion photographer Miles Aldridge, and the half sister of British model Saffron Aldridge. No pressure.

This dress, it turns out, was ridiculously expensive. Only rich young heiresses could afford one.

None of the photos from the 'Breast Augmentation' bus stop around the corner from my house made it in.

In between photos the California sun was free-based by the models' skin.

I love these photos of Ashley taken at the very end of the shoot looking off the HB pier.

The light was very nice. These scans from the proof sheet don't do it justice.

"Beauty is the first present nature gives to women and the first it takes away." -Fay Weldon

"Beware of the person who can't be bothered by details." -William Feather

"Beauty is only temporary, but your mind lasts you a lifetime." -Alicia Machado

I had this idea where Grant would be looking at an old 1960's Playboy and the girls would be giving him dirty looks. Had I known Ruby's mother was a Playboy bunny in the 70's I would have tracked down that issue.

"Uh, stupid!"

"O human beauty, what a dream art thou, that we should cast our life and hopes away on thee!" -Barry Cornwall

"He (Marilyn Manson) has a woman's name and wears makeup. How original." -Alice Cooper

"I'd have to say that, in general, models take themselves too seriously. Basically, they are genetic freaks who spend a couple of hours in hair and makeup." -Rebecca Romijn

"Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image." -Goethe

I put them up to this, it's all my fault.

Grant and Ashley may have been bored by the end of the day.

Deanna tried to shield the nudity from the stares of lecherous men. But this guy got a sweet eyeful of boobie anyway.

Sadly this photo did not make the cut.

"Seduction is always more singular and sublime than sex and it commands the higher price." -Jean Baudrillard

This one did make it in.

This was my fave from the bike shots.

The surfers were walking by on accident, I was lucky to only get one shot with them in the background.

I made Grant and Ashley kiss a lot for this one.

Oh hey.

Try keeping a straight face as these filthy sharp beaked fuckers are pecking at your fingers.

Come hither to the unheated "hot-tub" that is freezing our feet.

The in-between stuff was the funnest.

"It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction." -Pablo Picasso